Quality of life in patients with urticaria and angioedema: Assessing burden of disease

Abstract

Patients with urticaria and/or angioedema have several reasons to have a poor quality of life (QoL). The intensity of pruritus and density of involvement compromise a patient's lifestyle as well as aggravate stressors that affect physical and psychiatric conditions. The burden of illness is significant in not only costs for emergent practitioner visits, but, often, unnecessary laboratory testing and medication expenses. Questionnaires that assess a patient's QoL serve to document benefit to therapies. Objectively documenting changes that are important to patients with urticaria and/or angioedema allows the patients and clinician to accurately assess effectiveness of therapies over long periods of time. Specific surveys that address urticaria (CU-Q2oL and UAS) and angioedema (AE-QoL questionnaire) allow simplified and sensitive assessments for patients with the corresponding condition. Common components of appropriate surveys assess not only intensity of pruritus and wheals but also impact on sleep, interpersonal relationships, and appearances. In considering the most important aspects of several surveys, an example of a survey is provided that focuses on the patient's perception of how their urticaria and/or angioedema impacts their QoL.